DIY Mod Podge Vintage Side Table

Have you ever tried your hand at using Mod Podge? This versatile glue is used in DIY projects all the time – and I couldn't wait to finally do a larger project with it!

I had a small, brown side table I had spray painted white months ago, and it looked cute in our living room, but it needed something.

It was begging for something special on top of it, and that little table was the perfect furniture piece to try out mod podging. How hard could it be?

When I saw this adorable sheet music table, I couldn't wait to embellish my little table. But what to use? I didn't have sheet music, so I looked through my scrapbook papers. Nothing really spoke to me.

What did I have that was vintage? And then I remembered the beautiful, handwritten letters and invoices that were so fascinating to me that I just had to buy them at an antique fair months ago. Those 100-year old treasures would look perfect on the table!

You will need these supplies:

little side table or other small furniture piece (pick one up at a thrift store)

Mod Podge glue

foam brush

scissors

vintage invoices, vintage book pages, music sheets, or similar

optional: copier, X-Acto knife, clear laquer spray paint

Mod Podge Side Table Tutorial:

Decide what you want to decoupage on the top of the table or furniture piece: old movie tickets, stamps, old letters or postcards, scrap paper, or anything similar – all would look lovely.

I didn't want to ruin my vintage invoices – I still intend to frame them one day – and I was also afraid that the ink and pen marks might smudge from the Mod Podge, so I copied the pages and used those after I cut off the excess paper.

Lay out the pages and decide on the final look you like. Then take off the top layer(s) until you are only left with the bottom page.

Apply the first coat of Mod Podge to the top of the table and add your first piece of paper, making sure to avoid bubbles. Cover that page with more glue. I was surprised how much the glue changed the color of the pages: a faint beige turned into more of a yellow, so I'll keep that in mind for future Mod Podge projects.

Then dip your index finger into a little bit of glue and gently push out any air bubbles. After a couple of layers of paper, there were some trapped bubbles in the middle of my table, and I tried to release them by making a small hole in the bubble with my Xacto knife. That worked for some bubbles, but not all. Next time I know to put more glue onto the surface.

Try not to push or scrape the page with glue on it too much or you might end up with holes, or discolored or torn paper.

Once you adhere all of your paper pieces to the table, let the first layer of Mod Podge dry for 20 minutes or more.

Add additional layers of Mod Podge to the table. I added one more. To make perfectly sure that the top of the table is durable for years to come, finish the project with a clear laquer spray paint.

I'm totally in love with how this table turned out. It certainly is very unique now, and I'm glad I was able to preserve a piece of history, something that was written 100 years ago, by adding it to the table top.

ADVERTISEMENT

Do you have a small furniture piece that could use an update? What would you glue to the top of it? I encourage you to use Mod Podge for a fun DIY project!

DIY Mod Podge Vintage Side Table

Dagmar tackles motherhood, thrifty home decorating, DIY projects, and green and frugal living on her lifestyle blog Dagmar's Home.
She loves finding treasures in thrift stores and sells her handmade candles on Dagmar's Home Decor. Connect with her on Twitter (26,000 followers), Facebook, and Pinterest. ... More

EverydayFamily.com offers general information and is for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical, psychiatric or psychological advice. Nothing on this website should be taken to imply an endorsement of EverydayFamily.com or its partners by any person quoted or mentioned.

Login with your account from EverydayFamily

Reset Password

EverydayFamily.com Week-by-Week Newsletter

Receive weekly updates on your pregnancy or new baby’s development as well as Free Stuff, Special Offers, Product Samples, Coupons, Checklists and Tools you can use today, and more from EverydayFamily! Plus all new members are entered to win FREE diapers for a year!Receive weekly updates on your pregnancy or new baby’s development as well as Free Stuff, Special Offers, Product Samples, Coupons, Checklists and Tools you can use today, and more from EverydayFamily! Plus all new members are entered to win FREE diapers for a year!